Here's Negan

There is not a doubt in my mind that The Walking Dead is the most inconsistent show I have ever seen.

How does a show vary from awful to great so many times in one single season?

The last 2 episodes have been objectively the two worst episodes the series has ever seen. Now this episode comes along with genuine heart-wrenching performances, stellar writing and beautiful directing. How? I find myself profoundly dumbfounded as to how the quality of this show can alter this much.

This episode's writing was on par with the old walking dead. And not many episodes since season 6 managed to reach that level.

Dear God I just hope that they somehow manage to go out with a banger in the last season.

Negan faces his past and his future.

Although thin on zombie action, it showcases the best of The Walking Dead, zombie effects, high production and excellent characterisation. This is Negan's episode and showcases how brilliant Jeffreys Dean Morgan is an actor. It's also a bitter sweet reminder how good the series started out.

This episode single handedly, even though mostly a flashback, returns The Walking Dead's je ne sais quoi, reflecting that double edge title, even the living are the walking dead. It is a well written and paced an origins story of both Negan and Lucile. It simmers with real choices and conflicts especially with Negan facing his past and literally his mistake of killing Glenn Rhee.

The Walking Dead like Fear has been an anomaly, strong early seasons, then meandering to all the wrong places, introducing all the wrong characters and storylines. Thankfully in the latter half of season 10 it began to cohesively and wittily return to form with characters plights against themselves and zombies. This episode is no different. Not another unrealistic group of humans to face off against. You know it's good when you can name the characters.

Overall, one of the best character episodes of not just season 10 but the 10 seasons.

A great episode. It is good to see how Negan became himself. Jeffery Dean Morgan does a superb job of revealing past hurt, which creates the Negan we know today - and to some viewers - the Negan we love.

One thing to note however, is that this episode delivers a greater emotional experience than previous 'story-telling' episodes. And by that I mean the old catch phrase of: everyone loves a person to hate, and the emotions involved in assembling that character are therefore more appreciated.

Negan is someone who creates, for most of us, a love/hate relationship. We hate his previous violence towards beloved characters, but we love the creation of 'I did this, because...'

Great story-telling, great acting, and the end delivers what should be accepted as a possible foregone conclusion to the series.

I just reflect that in previous 'story-telling' episodes the fans have been less appreciative. But surely, as I have pointed out in the aforementioned explanation, people may start to realise the reasons they gave the earlier S10 episodes a bad rating.

You've got to love the bad characters, being a possible, if perhaps unsuitably simple, explanation.

Bravo to TWD team for such a great season finale, and one can only hope for a series ending season being as impressive.

Easiest 10/10 I've ever given, one of the best episodes of the entire show, and that's very surprising since 10C has been pretty boring.

Great to finally see Negans backstory!

Everything about about this episode is perfect. If this is what the new Walking Dead Tales series will be like I am excited to see the future of The Walking Dead Universe.